Means for supporting thread advancing reels



3maentor (Ittorneg R. F. BERGMANN Filed June 10, 1941 Q mm MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THREAD ADVANCING REELS mm mm 6 8 Sept. 1, 1942'.

mm in? @MMW RICHARD E BERGMAN/V hmmm Patented Sept. 1, 1942 OFFICE MEANS ro'a snrronrina 'rnanan anvancmc nears to Industrial Lakewood, Ohio, on Corporation, Cleveland,

aesiznor Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application June 10, 1941, sen-nu No. 397,415 14 Claims. (01. 242-53) The present invention relates to improvements in means for supporting thread-advancing thread store devices such, for example, as thread-advancing reels intended for the handling of thread, filaments, bands, ribbons, etc.

While the thread-advancing thread store devices with which the invention is concerned may be employed for various purposes, they may be used to especial advantage in apparatus for the continuousprocessing of multiple filament artificial silk thread. The structure of the invention is particularly designed to provide firm support for a thread-advancing thread store device mounted in such apparatus in operable relation to a plurality of similar devices. Among other things, the'invention provides improvements in i. e., supported from one end. 1

Most thread-advancing thread store devices function by virtue of an ofiset and inclined relation between the axes of the members supporting the thread. Due to tensions in the thread, there is a tendency for the axes of the threadadvancing members to become sprung by the stresses exerted by the thread as it traverses the periphery of the device. This is perhaps more Other novel features of the invention the supporting structure for devices of this kind which are of the cantilever type;

- tending bar members 8 and 9.

common in devices of cantilever construction, ina which the thread-advancing members are supported from one end thereof, but may also occur in devices supported from both ends.

The springing action thus exerted by the thread tends to destroy the inclined relationship between the thread-advancing members, bringing their axes into parallel relation. When this takes place, the thread turns pile, up in the form of a wide band at the end of the device toward which the thread would normally advance. In practice, the supporting means for individual thread-advancing members have been known to become so badly sprung. as to cause altogether excessive wear upon the thread-advancing members and the driving means: obviously, in such circumstances the thread becomes entangled and broken, thus interrupting the operation of the apparatus as a whole.

, The present invention provides means for supporting thread-advancing thread store devices and particularly thread-advancing reels in such manner that flexing between the axes, of the thread-advancing members is virtually or entire- 1y eliminated. In part, this is accomplished by supporting the thread-advancing members as closely as possible to the unsupported end of the device as a whole. In part, it is accomplished by .Sealing member cross section, is preferably made of'rubber; seal-- providing as wide'a spacing as possible between the bearings, particularly in thread-advancing reels employing bearings of the anti-friction type. will be apparent as the description of the in ention proceeds.

For convenience, the thread-advancing thread store device shown in Figures land 2 of the accompanying drawing takes the form of an cantilever thread-advancing reel employed in the drying of thread or the like. In such drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing the supporting means of the present shows a plan of the apparatus of Figure l.

The thread-advancing reel of the drawing; that is to say, reel 5, operates on what is generally the same principle as the reel shown, described and claimed in Knebusch Patent 2,210,914. It comprises two rigid reel members 6 and 1 of substantially circular cross section which have peripheries formed of spaced longitudinally exrespectively. The bar members 8 of reel member 6 and bar members 9 of reel member 7 are disposed alternately in interdigitating relation. Reel members 6 and l are mounted for rotation about axes which are offset from and inclined to each other so as to cause the reel to operate to advance the thread in spaced generally helical turns from one end of the reel periphery to the other.

The spaced longitudinally extending bar members 8 of reel member 6 are fixed to a hollow cylindrical body portion ll. Body portion ll of reel member 6 is enclosed at its ends by front and rear closure members I3 member 6 concentrically of shaft I9. At the same time, such closure members cooperate with body portion H to form a fluid-tight chamber ii in reel member 6 for the purpose of receiving a drying medium such, for example, as steam, hot water, hot air, or other similar fluid. Although any suitable drying medium may be used, the one considered best suited for use in the illustrated reel is hot water. If desired, an electrical heating element may be mounted in reel member 6, the heat in such case being supplied from the heating element.

Surrounding shaft l9 and disposed in recesses IS in the faces of closure members l3 and M are two cooperating sealing members It and l1. l6, which has a wedge-shaped ing member H, which is characterized by a corresponding wedge-shaped cross section, is prefinvention. Figure 2 and M, respectively, 'which closure members serve to support reel hollow drive shaft I9 is a plug 28 secured therethe like into which.

to by welding, soldering or plug is threaded a bolt 2| holding washer 22 in place against sealing member H at the front end of the reel. A washer 23, disposed on shaft |9 by means of a snap ring 24, bears against outer sealing member l1 at the rear of reel member 5, serving thereby to locate reel member endwise of shaft i9. As the bolt 2| is tightened, it forces the wedge-shaped sealing members i5 and I1 together, thus effectively sealing reel member 5. The tight fit at these points on shaft i9 also provides the necessary engagement of reel member 5 with shaft i9.

Drying medium is conducted to chamber |2 in body portion I of reel member 5 through hollow drive shaft l9. When the drying medium enters chamber i2, it heats the surrounding body portion i I, which in turn transmits the heat to the longitudinally extending bar members 8 of reel member 5. Thus the thread being advanced along the thread-bearing periphery of reel 5 is dried. Be

cause of the effectiveness of the sealing means in preventing escape of the heating fluid, there is little or no likelihood of injury to thread stored on the reel.

Reel member 1, which may be termed the eccentric reel member by reason of the fact that it is mounted with its axis in offset and inclined relation to that of reel member 5, comprises bar members 9 formed as a part of a rigid cage-like member. Reel member 1, which, likereel member 5, is substantially circular in cross section, has the longitudinally extending bar members 9 thereof secured at their unsupported ends to an internal reinforcing ring 25 and at their supported ends to an external annular rib 21. Rib 21 is secured to eccentrically mounted supporting member 28 by means of bolts 29.

Supporting member 28 embodies a concave web portion 38 and a projecting sleeve portion 3|, of which the latter is mounted about a boss 38 formedon frame member 35. The axis of bore 31 of boss 38 through which shaft |9 projects is offset fram and inclined to the axis of shaft i9. Sleeve portion 3| of supporting member 28 is mounted concentrically of boss 38 by means of spaced anti-friction bearings 32.' Thus reel member 1 is rotatably-mounted with its axis in offset and inclined relation to the axis of reel ,member 5 which, as previously explained, is supported by closure members i3 and i4 concentrically of shaft i9.

By means of snap rings 33 the outer races of bearings 32 are held in properly spaced relation to each other in sleeve portion 3| of supporting member 28. The inner race of one of the bearings 32 is held in place against a shoulder on hub 39 of boss 38. -The inner race of the other bearing 32 is held in place by a washer 34 secured to the forward end of boss 38 by a machine screw 35.

Frame member 35 embodies boss 38, hub 39 and tending arms 4|. Supported transversely of and between arms 4| at a point approximately midway between boss 38 and coupling 42 is a flange 43. Flange 43 is employed for the purpose of mounting the reel unit as a whole in apparatus embodying a plurality of similar units in the manner shown, described and claimed in George P. Torrence et al. Patent 2,217,716.

Shaft l9 extends lengthwise of frame member 35, passing through bore 31 of boss 38 and projecting beyond coupling 42. Shaft i9 is Journailed in anti-friction bearings 44 and 45 mounted in hub 39 of boss 38 and in coupling 42, respectively. The outer race of bearing 44 is pressed into a socket in hub 39 and the inner race is held in place by means of collar 45 secured to shaft i9. The outer race of bearing 45 is pressed into the bore of coupling 42 against a feltring 41 held in place by a suitable snap ring. The inner raceof said bearing is located in place by collar 48. r

By virtue of its substantially frictionless mounting, shaft i9 may be actuated with a mini mum of driving force. The wide spacing of bearings 44 and 45 greatly minimizes the degree of flexing of that portion of shaft 19 which projects beyond boss 38 of frame 35; that is to say, that portion which supports reel member 5. Bevel gear 58, which is secured to shaft l9, may be 'located at any convenient point between flange 43 and coupling 42. It provides positive driving engagement with the driving member of the apparatus to which the unit as a whole is applied.

In the interior of cylindrical body portion ll of reel member 5- directly back of rear closure member i4 is disposed an annular internally toothed member 5| secured thereto by means of a plurality of flat-head screws 52. Internally toothed member 5| engages a series of teeth 53 formed integrally upon the exterior of sleeve portion 3| of supporting member 28. As shaft i9 is rotated by gear 59, reel member 5 positively actuates reel member 1 through the intermeshing of intemaily toothed member 5| and teeth 53 and at the same timev maintains bar members 8 and 9 of reel members 5 and 1, respectively, in spaced relation.

Positive maintenance of the spaced relation between bar members 8 and .9 is desirable in certain types of reels, particularly those employed in drying thread. Drying reels commonly require that the reel members thereof be fabricated of metal or other suitable material possessing a high heat conductivity. Aluminum and various alloys of aluminum have been-found to be most satisfactory for' this purpose; but since such materials are comparatively soft, abrasion caused by contact between adjacent bar members would soon result in damage to the reel.

Secured to coupling 42 of frame member 38, as by means of bolts 54, is a stationary member 55 which facilitates the supply of drying medium to and its removal from the reel. Stationary member '55 comprises two internal compartments; namely, intake chamber 55 and exhaust chamber 51. A seal plate 58 and gasket 59 are disposed between coupling 42 and stationary member 55 transverse coupling 42 spaced from and secured to hub 39 by means of parallel longitudinally exfor the purpose of preventing leakage of drying medium therebetween.

Upon that portion of shaft l9 which projects beyond and to the rear of bearing 45 is secured,

venting leakage between with the inner face of seal plate I and annular rim 6! of exhaust chamber 51, respectively. Between each of the rings 83 and 63' and the base of each oppositely disposed cylindrical bore 08 in rotatable member 62 is disposed flexible packing material 66 which is urged against said ring and base by coil spring 61, thus effectively preintake chamber id nd exhaust chamber 51. I

Hot water or some other suitable drying fluid is supplied to chamber l2 of reel member I by means of a hollow shaft l9 which communicates with said chamber I2 and intake chamber 58 of stationary member 55 through ports 68 and 68. Tube ll disposed within the bore of shaft l9 connects chamber l2 with exhaust chamber 51 by means of ports 12 and I3 and serves to remove the drying medium from reel member 6. In this fashion, a constant flow of drying fluid is mamtained through chamber I! of reel member 8.

Wet thread which is being dried from the gel state; e. g., so-called freshly spun viscose artiflcial silk thread, possesses an inherent tendency to shrink in the course of the drying operation. In the use of a reel of the kind herein described, wet thread is applied to the periphery of the reel at a point near the supported end thereof and is advanced toward the unsupported end thereof in generally helical turns of substantially uniform circumference. If the thread is subjected to a drying operation during its advance along the periphery of the reel, it will attempt to shrink, thus introducing tension into the thread.

Under certain circumstances, this tension in the thread, although resisted by the reel structure, becomes so great as the thread nears the unsupported end of the reel that it causes the portion of the shaft projecting beyond the hearing support to become sprung. In eilect, this brings the eccentric and concentric members into parallel relation, thus destroying the inclination between their respective axes with the result that the thread turns no longer will be advanced along the reel. The banding of thread turns which follows causes a permanent bending of the shaft, efl'eoting frictional contact between the bar members of the respective sets as well as excessive wear on the internal and external gears 5| and 53. l

The present invention eflectively eliminates any such flexing of the shaft by providing a wide spacing of the bearing means, this by positioning one of said bearing means internally of the reel.

Although the reel hereinabove described constitutes the preferred embodiment of the invention, at least at the presenttime, it will be apparent that numerous modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus flange 43 in frame member 36 may, if desired, be interchanged with gear 50. Similarly,v bearing 44 may, if desired, be positioned at the very end of boss portion 38 of frame 36. Other changes within the purview of the invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Means for supporting a thread-advancing reel embodying two sets of bar members disposed in inclined relation to each other comprising aframe member; means for supporting-one of said 7 sets of bar members from a point within its own periphery for rotation about one end of said completelyencompassed by the supporting means for said flrst set of bar members disposed adjacent the end of said frame member about which said flrst set of bar members is mounted; second bearing means disposed adjacent the other end of said frame member; a shaft joumalled in and extending beyond said flrst bearing means, the second set of bar members being mounted upon the projecting portion of said shaft; and driving means mounted upon the shaft between said first and second bearing means.

2. Means for supporting a thread-advancing reel embodying two sets of bar members disposed in inclined relation to each other comprising a frame member one end of which terminates in a boss portion; means extending inward of the device as awhole for supporting one of said sets of bar members for rotation about said boss portion first bearing means disposed in said frame member adjacent the boss portion thereof, said hearing means being substantially completely encircled by said supporting means; second bearing inward ofthe reel as a whole for supporting one of said reel members for rotation about said boss portion; first bearing means disposed in said fram member adjacent the boss portion thereof, said bearing means being substantially completely encircled by said supporting means; second bearing means, disposed adjacent the opposite extremity-of said frame member; a drive shaft joumalled in said bearing means extending through the boss portion of said frame member, the other of said reel members being mounted p nthe projecting portion of said shaft; mounting means on said frame member disposed intermediate the ends thereof; and driving means mounted upon said shaft between said first and second bearing means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which at least one of said bearing means is an anti-friction bearing.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which both of said bearing means are anti-friction bearings.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said flrst bearing means are disposed at a point between said mounting means and that end of the frame member which terminates in said boss portion.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said driving means are mounted upon the shaft to substantially completely encompass the bear-- ing means adjacent that end of the shaft upon which said first-mentioned set of bar members is mounted; mounting means intermediate the ends of said frame member; and, driving means mounted upon said shaft between said bearing means. i

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which at least one of said'bearing means is an antifriction bearing.

. 11. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which both of said bearing means are anti-friction ea n s- I a 12. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which said mounting means are disposed between the driving means'and the bearing means adjacent that end of the shaft upon which said first-mentioned set of bar members is mounted.

13. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the bearing means adjacent that end of the shaft up n which the first-mentioned set of bar members is mounted are disposed at a point within the periphery of said thread-advancing reel.

14. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which said mounting means are disposed between said bearing means.

RICHAlZtD F. BERGMANN. 

